Opinion

Cargo theft hits everything from LEGO to tequila. We need the Senate to help stop it

House passed legislation to fight theft networks, and the Senate must now bring it to Trump's desk

By Evan Fallor Fox News

Published May 20, 2026 9:00am EDT

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At first glance, it looked like a mirage in the California desert: two trailers carrying $1 million worth of LEGO sets abandoned in the Mojave.

But the scene was real. After a chase through the desert, police caught up to the three thieves who hijacked the trucks carrying the expensive and easy-to-resell colorful bricks en route from Texas to California, hoping to make a quick buck off the black-market gold. It was also a vivid illustration of a growing national problem most Americans rarely see, even as they increasingly pay for it.

For the men and women who keep the nation’s supply chains moving, cargo theft has become an ever-present threat. Every time a truck driver pulls onto the highway, there is the possibility that the freight inside the trailer could vanish before it reaches its destination. According to Verisk CargoNet, Memorial Day has historically been a magnet for cargo thieves, as loaded trailers sit unattended and warehouse staffing levels drop.

The trucking industry loses $18 million every........

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